China warned Saturday that Taiwan's decision to hold a referendum on its bid for UN membership could threaten peace in the Asia-Pacific region, state media said. Taiwan announced on Friday it would hold two referendum on bidding to join the world body at the same time as presidential elections next month.
China said the decision to hold one of the referendum on whether to bid for membership under the name "Taiwan" was a move towards formal independence by the island, the official Xinhua news agency said. China regards Taiwan as a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949.
A China government statement said the referendum was "Taiwan independence" in a disguised form, Xinhua reported. "Once this scheme is realised, it certainly will seriously impact relations across the Taiwan Straits, seriously harm the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides and seriously imperil peace in the Taiwan Straits and even peace in the Asia-Pacific region," the statement said.
It was not clear if "once this scheme is realised" referred to the referendum taking place or if it was approved by a majority of Taiwan voters. China and the United States have opposed Taiwan holding the referendum, with ally Washington concerned about sparking a cross-strait conflict.
Taiwan, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN seat to the mainland in 1971 and is now only recognised diplomatically by 23 countries. Its efforts over the past 14 years to rejoin the world body using its official name have been repeatedly shot down by Beijing, a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council.
China's statement said disputes between Taiwan and the mainland could be solved through dialogue, labelling the referendum an "ugly intention." "We pay close attention to development of this referendum issue. If the authority led by Chen Shui-bian stubbornly risks danger in desperation, it will certainly pay a heavy cost," it said.
Taiwan President Chen, backed by his independence-leaning party, proposed the referendum which was given the go ahead on Friday by the island's election commission. A second referendum, proposed by the opposition which favours closer ties with Beijing, was also given the green light. It asks whether the island should seek to join the UN under "the Republic of China" or "Taiwan" or another suitable name. Both are set to be held on March 22 alongside the presidential polls.